Pete Winitnot

In other news involving ethnically insensitive Republicans named Pete, former congressman Peter Hoekstra, who’s running for the U.S. Senate, is getting some serious heat for the Super Bowl ad his campaign ran in Michigan media markets.

I thought about embedding the ad here, but didn’t have enough hand sanitizer. It’s offensive not only to Asian-Americans, but to basic good taste.

It’s not clear exactly which hammer-headed media consultant first came up with the idea of associating political opponents with cheerful furriners thanking them for their treachery, but he or she is probably going to hell. Hoeckstra’s “Thank you, Debbie Spenditnow” spot ranks right down there with Jim Bunning’s infamous “Muchas gracias, Senor Baesler” ad in the hall of shame; indeed, it was probably inspired by it.

Michigan voters now have a special responsibility to reward Hoekstra–who calls himself Pete Spenditnot in the ad–for his contribution to the tone of American politics by making him Pete Winitnot. He should have a fine retirement career back home telling racist jokes down at the barbershop.